By Sanmi Adekola
Lagos is the most populous city in Africa and sixth largest city in the world. It is a major port on the west coast of the continent with a diverse population of over 20 million population that spans Islands, Lagoon and further inland. Lagos is a cosmopolitan city serving as place of abode of over 250 different ethnic groups within and outside Nigeria.
Like many major cities in the world, transportation is a big deal. While Danfo buses have served the State from time immemorial, the increasing population couple economic realities have made commercial motorcycle a go-to among residents with its own attendant costs and consequences.
Commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Okada riders are at present everywhere, from the inner streets to the highways, you find them carrying their passengers. Perhaps, this won’t have been a thing of concerned if these motorcyclists usually ride with care.
As at today, nine out of every ten Okada riders is from the Northern part of Nigeria, many of which lack basic knowledge of road signs and regulations. Many of them don’t even know the routes they’re plying.
Several administrations have made unsuccessful attempts to ban Okada in Lagos State beginning with erstwhile Governor Babajide Raji Fashola, and perhaps the most successful attempt made to regulate the operation of these motorcyclists in Lagos State. Unfortunately, the gain made by the govt of BRF was soon to be reversed by the administration of his immediate successor, Governor Ambode whose administration wanted to be perceived as a populists regime.
Since, Governor Babajide Sanwoolu came on board, two attempts have been made to ban or restrict the operation of Okada in the State, but each attempts have been met with stiff resistant from the Okada operators and community sympathizers. Two major arguments are usually advanced for the continuous operation of Okada in Lagos State. One is economic, that is, the need for the operators to earn a living to sustain their families. The second is the huge traffic gridlock on Lagos roads. Perhaps, the third one, is lack of inner vehicles to convey people to some places within the State.
The question is whether these reasons are sufficient for the insecurities posed by criminalities perpetrated by some of the operators of these commercial motorcyclists? It’s no longer a news that bag snatching, car burglary, and other social menaces are common place among the riders.
Some are even into drug sales, uses and abuses. Some weeks ago, the officers of the Nigeria Drugs Law Enforcement Agency stormed the popular Fagba/ Abattoir area; you need to see how many of these guys took to their heels, trying to protect the hard drugs they were keeping in shanties.
A trip to most hospitals also show that patients from Okada accidents are on the increase due to reckless riding by the operators. Thus, the negligence of these people is further compounding the already overburdened health care services system of the State.
The question is not when will Lagos completely banned the operation of these commercial motorcyclists? The question is how long can the State survives without banning their operations, especially considering the increase in the rate of suicide bombers in the country?
- Sanmi Adekola is a Founder and Team Lead Driveria NG
